Is Galatasaray capable of defeating Bayern Munich?

Galatasaray is not a strange name in European football. This is a club with a rich history with many stars who have joined them. Before this match starts, let’s learn about the team from the Turkish capital Istanbul to see their strength against the German giant.

Current form

Galatasaray has had a pretty good start this season. The Turkish team has impressed in both the national championship – Super Lig and Champions League, and They are full of confidence to be able to defeat Bayern Munich.

Galatasaray is ranked second in the Super Lig rankings with 25 points – two points behind Fenerbahce – after winning last Saturday’s Istanbul derby against Besiktas with a score of 2-1 thanks to Mauro Icardi’s double. This helps them extend their domestic unbeaten streak to 9 (8 wins, 1 draw).

Meanwhile, in the Champions League arena, coach Okan Buruk’s team earned 4 points through the opening 2 matches of the group stage. After an unfortunate draw against Copenhagen in the opening match, they defeated Manchester United right at Old Trafford Stadium with a score of 3-2.

The squad is rich in attack power

The Turkish team is especially strong on the offensive front. Their biggest star is Argentine striker Mauro Icardi, who has scored 14 goals in all competitions this season. But Icardi is not alone. Last summer, Galatasaray was strengthened by the signings of Wilfried Zaha, Moroccan international Hakim Ziyech and Brazilian winger Tetê.

Their already very high quality attack is also supported by the firepower of Belgian veteran – Dries Mertens and Turkish player – Kerem Akturkoglu, who are in charge of creating playmaking roles.

In midfield, Uruguayan international Lucas Torreira and former Bayer Leverkusen player Kerem Demirbay bring the necessary creativity. Meanwhile, the club’s defense was reinforced with a contract named Davinson Sanchez, who used to play for Tottenham Hotspur.

Rich track record

Galatasaray is the most successful club in the country. They have a total of 23 Super Lig titles, 18 National Cup championships and 16 Turkish Super Cups.

In the European arena, Galatasaray led by coach Fatih Terim won the UEFA Cup in 2000, after a victory over Arsenal – this was also the first European championship of a club from Turkey. A few weeks later, they defeated the Champions League champion – Real Madrid to win the European Super Cup. That was also the most successful time of this team.

RAMS Park home ground

Galatasaray is famous throughout Europe because of the tense atmosphere created by the fans when they play at home. The full name of the stadium is Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi Rams Park, opened in 2011 in Sariyer district, Istanbul city. With a capacity of 52,223 spectators, this is the second largest stadium in the country after Olympic Ataturk.

The German team also played at RAMS Park in the EURO qualifiers in 2011. At that time, they defeated Turkey with a score of 3-1, thanks to goals from the Bayern Munich trio, Mario Gomez, Thomas. Muller and Bastian Schweinsteiger.

History of confrontation

The only previous encounter between defending champions Germany and Türkiye took place in the first round of the 1972/1973 European Cup season. After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, Bayern won 6-0 when they returned to their home stadium Olympiastadion on September 27, 1972. In that match, Gerd Muller scored a double, the remaining goals were scored by by Franz Beckenbauer, Uli Hoeneb, Franz Roth and Edgar Schneide.

Thinh Nguyen | 21:43 October 24, 2023